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English Words Starting With S

15,552 entries — pick a word to see its definition, pronunciation, and usage.

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

spun rayon
nounC1
/ˌspʌn ˈreɪ.ɒn/A type of rayon yarn or fabric made from short, staple fibers that are spun together, giving it a texture and appearance similar to natural spun fibers like cotton or wool, rather than the continuous filament of standard rayon.
spun silk
nounC2 (Very Low Frequency / Specialist)
/ˌspʌn ˈsɪlk/A type of silk yarn or fabric made from short silk fibres (waste or broken filaments) that are spun together, rather than from long continuous filaments.
spun sugar
nounC1
/ˌspʌn ˈʃʊɡə/A confection made by melting sugar and spinning it into fine, thread‑like strands, used as decoration or to create delicate, airy nests for desserts.
spun yarn
nounC1
/ˌspʌn ˈjɑːn/Thread or yarn created by twisting and drawing out fibres together.
spun-bonding
nounLow
/ˌspʌn ˈbɒndɪŋ/A manufacturing process where filaments are extruded and stretched, then laid down to form a web and bonded together.
spunk
nounC1 (due to register, taboo, and potential for misunderstanding)
/spʌŋk/Courage, determination, and spirited energy; semen (vulgar slang).
spunkie
nounRare/Obsolete
/ˈspʌŋki/A Scottish term for a will-o'-the-wisp or phosphorescent light seen over marshy ground, traditionally thought to be a mischievous spirit.
spunware
nounVery Low / Niche
/ˈspʌnweə/Software that is promoted with exaggerated or misleading marketing claims.
spur
nounverbverb-intransitive+1B2
/spɜː/1) (Noun) A sharp pointed device worn on a rider's heel to urge a horse forward. 2) (Verb) To stimulate or encourage someone or something to take action or develop faster.
spur blight
nounVery Rare
/ˈspɜː blaɪt/A plant disease affecting certain shrubs, particularly raspberries and blackberries, characterized by cankers and dieback on young canes.
spur gall
nounRare/Archaic
/ˈspɜː ɡɔːl/A skin irritation or sore on a horse, caused by the rubbing of a rider's spur.
spur gear
nounC1+ / Specialized
/ˈspɜː ɡɪə/A cylindrical gear with straight teeth cut parallel to its axis, used to transmit motion between parallel shafts.
spur gearing
nounC2
/ˈspɜː ˈɡɪərɪŋ/A mechanical gearing system using spur gears, which are cylindrical gears with straight teeth parallel to the axis of rotation, used to transmit motion between parallel shafts.
spur track
nounC1/C2
/ˈspɜː ˌtræk/A short railway siding that branches off from a main line, often serving a specific industrial facility, mine, or terminal.
spur veins
nounC2
/ˈspɜː ˌveɪnz/Small, lateral veins branching off from a main vein in a plant leaf or insect wing.
spur wheel
nounVery low
/ˈspɜː ˌwiːl/A gear wheel with teeth projecting radially outward (like spurs), used to transmit power between parallel shafts.
spurge
nounLow (Specialist/Botanical)
/spɜːdʒ/A plant of the genus Euphorbia, typically with milky, often poisonous sap, small flowers, and a wide variety of forms.
spurge family
nounLow (Specialist/Botanical)
/ˈspɜːdʒ ˌfæm.əl.i/A large family of flowering plants (Euphorbiaceae) characterized by milky, often toxic latex and diverse forms, from herbs to trees.
spurge laurel
nounLow (Specialized)
/ˌspɜːdʒ ˈlɒrəl/A small evergreen shrub (Daphne laureola) with glossy leaves and greenish-yellow flowers, poisonous to humans and some animals.
spurgeon
nounVery Low
/ˈspɜː.dʒən/An English surname, most famously associated with the prominent 19th-century Baptist preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon.

Showing 10761–10780 of 15552 words.